100 signatures reached
To: Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education and Conservative MP for Surrey Heath
Reconsider the GCSE reforms
Dear Minister,
Your intention to reform the current GCSE system from September 2015 is of great concern to the education community, and to us. We ask that you assemble a committee of forward-thinking education professionals, including those working in academia, to discuss and substantially revise the proposals before setting them in stone.
You have an opportunity to radically change the prospects and chances of a generation, and we ask that you do this in allegiance with the informed opinion of education experts. This way the government can reform the education system in a way that will benefit each and every child in the UK for generations to come.
Yours sincerely,
The Undersigned
Why is this important?
We know that GCSEs are not working. We know that our education system is working solely due to the immense and highly admirable efforts of those who work tirelessly to improve the chances and opportunities of young people.
We have the opportunity, as a people, to radically evolve this system. For a summary of why this government's proposals are likely to cause immense damage, see http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/17/michael-gove-gcse-reforms?newsfeed=true.
Some of the world's most foremost experts in education, who have all achieved spectacular results, have suggested a very different route. See for example http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html. Rather than ignoring them, the government could and should make use of their considerable expertise.
By taking the small step of revising the proposals through a committee of learning experts, the government has the opportunity to make positive and informed reforms that will benefit each and every child in the UK for generations to come.
How it will be delivered
I plan to deliver the petition in person if there are a substantial number of signatures.
In any other case, I will e-mail the petition to the petitioned and to all education authorities that fall under UK governmental jurisdiction.
